Megliola: Bears just a warm-up act with Broncos up next

By Lenny MegliolaSpecial to the News

Sunday

Oct 26, 2014 at 6:45 PMOct 26, 2014 at 6:48 PM

Really nice of the Bears to fly in for a little srimmage, on a nice Sunday afternoon too. Only problem was the Patriots went full-tilt and the Bears were in a walk-through state of mind. So it wound up a walkover.

FOXBORO — Really nice of the Bears to fly in for a little srimmage, on a nice Sunday afternoon too.

Only problem was the Patriots went full-tilt and the Bears were in a walk-through state of mind.

So it wound up a walkover.

The bare facts: Patriots 51, Chicago 23. Don’t be deceived. It wasn’t that close. With 5:16 left, it was 48-15. Da Bears were still a couple of touchdowns and a field goal shy of making it sound respectable.

"I think that’s probably been the biggest thing the last four weeks finally playing with some leads," said Tom Brady, who was the leading man in this blowout. How does 30 for 35, 354 yards and five touchdowns taste?

"We did a good job of keeping them off balance," said Brady. "It’s great to get everyone in the flow (on offense)."

His receivers were catching everything Brady was tossing. The fast-rising Brandon LaFell was targeted 11 times — 11 catches. Rob Gronkowski was targeted nine times, nine catches. Brady to Tim Wright was 7 for 7. Brady could have been throwing grenades, and they would’ve been caught. Three Gronk grabs went for TDs.

"He was a big-time player today," said Brady.

There wasn’t a Bear in the joint who could stay with Gronkowski. Think Muggsy Bogues trying to cover Shaq.

"I’ve got to use my body as leverage," said Gronk who, as we know, enjoys himself. He was like a basketball player with a hot hand. "Keep feeding me," he said.

After Gronk huffed, puffed and willed himself to the end zone on his final TD, he was done for the day. Dehydrated, was the word. The medical people loaded him with fluids. They told him to, "Keep drinking," he said, his grin as wide as the end zone, perhaps a nod to the off-season when he, you know, might just keep drinking something a little stronger than Gatorade. We’re not talking about a couch potato here.

In a way this game against the Bears was earmarked as a warm-up act, a bridge to the real guts of the season for New England. We still didn’t know how good — or bad — these Patriots were after a 2-2 start.

Four straight wins have brought some clarity, but the next five games sound daunting.

And that was the point of Sunday’s exercise at Gillette. It would only be a springboard to the killer schedule in front of them. Four dangerous teams, and one, the Broncos, that stands above the other 31.

The schedule makers didn’t exactly look kindly on the Patriots. But this is a big-boy business, and the stretch run starts with Denver next Sunday. The Broncos are on a scary roll. The team has a defense now. Peyton Manning’s playing like he’s 28. Even scoreboard operators are afraid of him.

Manning vs. Brady has always been, and always will be a sexy, top-of-the-marquee game. That’ll never change, even if they’re still playing at 45 and 44, respectively. Sunday is just another chapter.

The NFL is a week to week business. You just can’t look far down the road. Pats defensive back Tavon Wilson knew the Broncos were next, and that’s all he knew. He was clueless about who else was on the schedule. "We’re just gong to enjoy this one today, then it’s all Denver this week."

"A lot of players played well. But we’ve got to turn this around quickly (for Denver)," said Gronkowski.

However that monster game turns out, the Pats won’t be able to say, "Whew!, glad that’s over with." The schedule is what it is, but it’s not often that a team has to play five teams like this consecutively. All five come with starry quarterbacks: Denver, of course, then at Indy with Andrew Luck, Detroit (Matthew Stafford), at Green Bay with the on-fire Aaron Rodgers, at San Diego with Philip Rivers.

But there’s this Brady guy too.

"It’s tough to get a yard (in this league), but when you execute the offense it’s a great thing," said Wright. "This is an explosive offense led by and explosive quarterback, Tom Brady."

Wright didn’t have to say those last two words, but he’s new around here.

So Brady and Manning again, center stage.

"It’ll be a great game," said Brady. "It always is. Always pretty meaningful."

Lenny Megliola can be reached at lennymegs@aol.com.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.